A digest of today’s news items, reproduced here, with kind permission from Shirley Burnham who collated it.  For up to date libraries news follow @ShirleyBurnham on Twitter.

Gov.uk : 22nd January
Press release | Community libraries: guidance from the Arts Council 
The Arts Council has published a report looking at how communities are getting involved in the running and management of local libraries.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/community-libraries-guidance-from-the-arts-council

THE BOOKSELLER : 22nd January
Blog – Desmond Carke | Checking out
The DCMS, Arts Council England and the Society of Chief Librarians need to take their heads out of the sand and confront the crisis facing the public library service.
http://www.thebookseller.com/blogs/checking-out.html

THE GUARDIAN : 22nd January
Cornwall council’s privatisation compromise 
The west country council came perilously close to outsourcing a wide range of services to BT. Why did it change its mind?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/jan/22/cornwall-council-privatisation-compromise?CMP=twt_fd … | @

Daily Echo : 22nd January
Southampton City Council to plough £100,000 in to library services after huge cuts
http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/10176312.__100k_boost_for_libraries_following_cuts/

Bitterne Park Info : 22nd January
Southampton | Ray of hope for libraries
http://www.bitternepark.info/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1771:ray-of-hope-for-libraries&catid=1:local-news&Itemid=59

Brixton Blog : 21st January
Call for Labour Lambeth councillor to resign over libraries email
Residents, library users and opposition councillors have reacted angrily to an email from a senior Lambeth council member which appears to snub community groups not run by members of the Labour Party.
http://www.brixtonblog.com/call-for-labour-lambeth-councillor-to-resign-over-libraries-email/9725

Brent & Kilburn Times : 22nd January
Wembley mothers back Barham Park Library campaigners
The mothers are often turned way by Children Centres in both Chaplin Road and Barham Park Wembley because they are full.  With nowhere else to turn, they went to campaign group Friends of Barham Library who have been providing them with free space for their activities.http://www.kilburntimes.co.uk/news/wembley_mothers_back_barham_park_library_campaigners_1_1802771

Library News Round-up: 16 February 2015

THE BOOKSELLER : 16th FebruaryDCMS 'investigating' Lincolnshire library cutshttp://www.thebookseller.com/news/dcms-investigating-lincolnshire-library-cutsLincolnshire Echo : 16th FebruaryDepartment for Culture will probe complaint over Lincolnshire libraries cutshttp://www.lincolnshireecho.co.uk/Lincolnshire-libraries-cuts-investigated/story-26033652-detail/story.htmlLeon's Library Blog : 15th FebruarySay no to libraries…